Moses Pacheco

?? Upcoming ASCE National Capital Section SEI - Structural Engineering Institute October 2024 Section Meeting Announcement! ?? Join us for an insightful virtual presentation on “Reusing Existing Substructure – Considerations and Options for Testing and Design” by Micah Ceary, Ph.D., P.E., DBIA, Design Engineering Program Manager at VDOT’s Structure and Bridge Division. ??? When: Thursday, October 24th ?? Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (Presentation begins at Noon) ?? Where: Virtual – Meeting link will be sent to all registrants Creative solutions like deck or superstructure replacement are key to funding constraints and critical infrastructure needs. But how do we ensure the service life of these solutions matches the needs of the rehabilitated structures? Dr. Ceary will dive into real-world case studies, exploring substructure evaluation, testing, and design considerations to address these challenges. ?? Key Takeaways: Cost-effective substructure reuse options How to evaluate the existing substructure Considerations for long-term service life ????? About the Speaker: Micah Ceary, Ph.D., P.E., DBIA Virginia Department of Transportation Dr. Ceary is a Design Engineering Program Manager for the Structure and Bridge Division’s Project Development Program Area in VDOT. The Project Development Program Area is responsible for VDOT in-house design, coordination of consultant design, contract management, and oversight of Tier 2 projects. Before joining VDOT, Dr. Ceary worked for 24 years on Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build projects from Maryland to South Carolina. During this time, Dr. Ceary's work includes rehabilitation and repair for structures ranging from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to small structures on secondary roads. During Dr. Ceary’s time at the University of Maryland, the focus of his graduate work for both thesis and dissertation was on the investigated in-situ presence and characterization of delayed ettringite formation in Maryland. ?? Registration Link: Click the attached ASCE link below to register ?? 1 PDH credit is available upon request for attendees! Note: ASCE membership is not required, but an ASCE account (free) is required for registration. Don’t miss this chance to learn from an expert! Register today and secure your spot. #ASCE #NCS #SEI #VDOT #VirtualEvent #BridgeRehabilitation #Infrastructure #PDH #ASCEMemberMeetup #AssetManagement #Bridges #EngineeringLeadership

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?? 5 Daily Habits That Helped Me Pass the PE Exam ??As an engineer, I know firsthand how challenging the PE exam can be. That’s why in this week’s Pass the PE Exam episode, I’m sharing five habits that revolutionized my study routine and helped me succeed. ?? Here’s What Worked for Me: ?? Creating a consistent study schedule. ?? Regularly solving practice problems to sharpen skills. ?? Collaborating with peers for motivation and new insights. ?? Using online tools to study smarter and stay on track. ???♂? Prioritizing work-life balance to stay focused and healthy. These habits kept me confident and prepared, and I’m excited to share them with aspiring engineers. If you’re taking the PE exam in 2025, this episode is for you! ?? Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eee_VKy4 What habits have helped you succeed in preparing for exams? I’d love to hear your tips—share them in the comments! ?? #PassThePEExam #EngineeringSuccess #StudyTips

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Please join me at the January SAME Detroit Post luncheon titled "Cost-Effective, Sustainable Treatment Alternatives for PFAS-Impacted Soil" at the Engineering Society of Detroit in Southfield. Joe Quinnan (Senior Vice President at Arcadis) will be presenting. Meeting information and registration details are below. Feel free to forward to colleagues and follow the Detroit District LinkedIn page for updated event information?https://lnkd.in/gggCS6QD ?? " Cost-Effective, Sustainable Treatment Alternatives for PFAS-Impacted Soil” ? Date:???Wednesday January 15th, 2025 Time:???Sign in and Networking 11:30am-12:00pm ?Presentation & Lunch from 12:00pm-1:00pm ? Registration Deadline:?Please RSVP using Eventbrite, by 10pm on Tuesday January 14th, 2025??https://lnkd.in/gitm8epB ? Where:?The Engineering Society of Detroit ?????????????20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450 ?????????????Southfield, MI 48076 ? Cost:?$20 Federal Employees/Students ???????????$40 SAME Members ???????????$50 non SAME members Presentation Abstract: ? Increasing regulatory pressure and limitations on disposal of per and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS)-impacted soils has put stakeholders in a difficult position when determining options for treating and managing PFAS sources. Landfill acceptance criteria are becoming more restrictive, increasing cost as more significant transport to facilities can be required in certain geographies.?In addition, concern about incomplete combustion by products and off-gas emissions has made many stakeholders reconsider incineration of PFAS-impacts soils.??Hazardous substance designation under CERCLA has already impacted pricing and availability of landfills.?Potential future hazardous waste classification under RCRA will further restrict options and favor on-site treatment of these materials. ? This presentation summarizes our ESTCP “volume reduction” approach and results and compares to initial results from “soil washing 2.0”, where we modify the methods to overcome mass transfer limitations of conventional soil washing. We also discuss soil stabilization/solidification as an alternative to off-site treatment/disposal of PFAS-impacted soil based on testing at several DoD installations. ? The discussions will highlight DoD funded research results and focus on practical considerations that will enable stakeholders and practitioners to make informed decisions about managing PFAS-impacted soils. We also compare soil washing and stabilization to landfilling and incineration from a sustainability perspective.?The conclusion is that soil washing and stabilization/solidification are cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to landfilling and incineration.

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?? Master Compliance with Multiple Engineering Licenses! ??? In this Pass the PE Exam blog, Anthony Fasano, PE, AEC PM, F. ASCE shares essential strategies to help engineers manage multiple licenses across different states. From tracking renewal deadlines to leveraging tech tools and navigating state-specific requirements, you'll get the insights you need to stay organized and compliant. This episode is sponsored by PPI, a Kaplan Company. ?????♂? Watch the full episode here ?? https://lnkd.in/ewyD7Gib? ? #PEExam #EngineeringLicenses #ComplianceTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #PassThePEExam

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The American Society of Civil Engineers www.asce.org salary survey is out. Read it and weep. It shows a sizable gap between what women and men get paid for comparable work. Women trail considerably. Why is that? How can we bridge the gap? With women shouldering the lion's share of the homemaking and child rearing responsibilities, how can we create a better "work/life balance" in the Civil Engineering workforce?

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Discover the benefits of data dashboards in utility fiber build programs. See how the Burns & McDonnell approach offers better data visualization and management, leading to successful project execution. Hear more insights from Harinee Trivedi. https://hubs.li/Q02xnlGD0 #ProgramManagement

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?? **Just Published!** ?? I’m excited to share my latest research paper titled **"Modeling Life Expectancy and Cost Effectiveness for UHPC Bridge Retrofitting Techniques"** published in the journal Advances in Bridge Engineering. In this paper, we explore how Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) can be a game-changer for bridge maintenance and rehabilitation. ??? A major contribution of this paper is the life expectancy model for UHPC concrete. This is a matter of the quandary because life expectancy for concrete structures has been quantified by evaluating the corrosion or predicting the bridge condition index. In the paper, life expectancy modeling was performed based on the corrosion and inherent properties of the concrete. https://lnkd.in/evPaNB8G #engineering #bridgemaintenance #UHPC #construction #infrastructure #innovation #sustainability

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For those of us involved in the SUE (Subsurface Utility Engineering) profession…?Illinois DOT has included the following contract language in their Scope of Work: “Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) standards referred to within this scope of work are in accordance with the ASCE/UESI/CI 38-22 Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting Existing Utilities.”? What does the Utility Report to IDOT include??Refer to ASCE/UESI/CI 38-22 Chapter C4 Engineer and Owner Tasks.?C4.1.16?Preparing the Utility Report.?The Utility Report should include the following, but not necessarily all, inclusive information: ? Project description (e.g., project limits, type of work, existing utilities); ? Contract requirements relative to utilities; ? Metadata; ? Methods used to collect and depict subsurface Utility information; ? List of Utility Owners or other entities that have information on utilities within the project limits that were contacted and results of the contact; ? Description of the types and thoroughness of research applied to obtain information from the Utility Owners and other entities; ? Types of equipment selected and used to collect information; ? Types of software used to depict information; ? Areas swept, areas, not swept, and suspect areas; ? Utilities found and documented (type, attributes, etc.); ? Linear feet designated, number of Test Holes excavated, and other pertinent results; ? Problems encountered and unresolved issues (such as unidentified utilities, inconclusive information, or conflicting information); ? Detailed efforts and actions taken to identify ownership and type of designated unknown utilities; ? Conflict analysis setup (e.g., Utility conflict matrix, potential conflicts, resolved conflicts, or remaining conflicts to be addressed during design) if part of the Scope of Work; ? Recommended additional or future work; and? ? Pictures, images, and lidar data that may convey information more accurately than graphical deliverables.?? Tell us which other State DOTs have this contract language. #asce/uesi/ci 38-22

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How do you build a profitable project? ?? In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast from the archives, one of EMI PM Instructors, Mike Lozanoff, P.E., talked with me about invoicing and write-offs and how these two actions can affect the profitability of a consulting engineering firm. Check it out https://bit.ly/TCEPEp206Y Do you have a favorite resource that helped you understand the financial side of engineering projects? Share in the comments. #Engineers #Engineering #Finance #Consulting #Profitability #ProjectManagement

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What’s the Status of the Taylor Mill Road Sidewalk Project: I’m glad you asked…. The third and final phase of Taylor Mill Road’s sidewalk proejct has been a very long and protracted undertaking.?It all began in the spring of 2018 when the city made an application for SNK (Surface Transportation Planning (NKY)) funding through OKI (Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments).?OKI agreed to fund the Taylor Mill Sidewalk Phase III Project.?The original timeline was for funding to be available for ROW (right-of-way) easement acquisitions to occur in FY22 and construction to be funded in FY23. Prior to that, all the design and primary work was to be completed.?The city’s engineering firm, CT Consultants, worked with the city and residents and designed the project that will run from Saddlebrook Drive on its southern end, all the way to Walnut Drive on its furthest northern end.?Then, COVID hit. During the pandemic, many of the state agencies’ non-essential offices were closed and many projects, Taylor Mill’s sidewalk project being one of them, were left to linger unfinished.?Once the pandemic eased, many of the state workers who had been a part of the various agencies involved in the project, just didn’t return.?The city’s project lingered even longer, unfinished.?To attempt to kickstart momentum, the city agreed to pay for a portion of the project that normally the state performed, but because they were understaffed, they could not get to it in a timely manner.?That Cultural-Historic (C-H) survey was outsourced and paid for by the city to see the project move again.?That was at a cost of $36,984.?The C-H work began in May of 2023 and was completed by June of that year.?Now the city’s right-of-way (ROW) acquisition approval was stuck in Frankfort, waiting on review by the various necessary agencies. As with any bureaucratic project, even when all parts are moving in conjunction, it takes a seemingly long time to make any forward advancement.?The preliminary plans the city had prepared for the design and placement of the sidewalk were now going through their review.?It was a lot of back and forth to make all parties happy. Finally, in June of 2024, with all parties satisfied with the product, the city requested KYTC (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) to authorize the ROW phase.?In July of 2024, preliminary authorization was received but work was not permitted to begin until a new supplemental MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) for the ROW funds was executed. That agreement was received on August 7, 2024, and approved by the city commission on August 14.?The fully executed agreement was received back from the state on August 28th.?However, the city is not allowed to proceed with the ROW phase until KYTC Central Offices issues the “Notice to Proceed”.

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One of my passions is writing. I had the opportunity to author an article with James Hauber of Iowa DOT for the Fall 2024 issue of ASPIRE, the concrete bridge magazine, about the BIM for Bridges and Structures Pooled Fund Program. If you're curious about this initiative, check it out! PS: To my steel industry friends, this initiative pertains equally to steel bridges. You're welcome to invite me to author an article for one of your industry publications!

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The FHWA performed a research study that investigated the feasibility and economics of integrating NDE into preservation decision making process. This study documents typical bridge preservation actions for common highway bridge deck and wearing surface types, and applicability of various NDE technologies. It was wonderful to work with Michael Brown, PhD, PE, FACI, Mohamed ElBatanouny, PhD, SE, Hoda Azari, Andy Foden, Arezoo S. Imani and Katherine Hawkins on this project. The Final report and the Techbrief are now published and available online.? FHWA-HRT-25-009: Incorporating Nondestructive Evaluation Methods Into Bridge Deck Preservation Strategies FHWA-HRT-24-186: Incorporating Nondestructive Evaluation Methods Into Bridge Deck Preservation Strategies

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With all the flooding in Minnesota, the American Geophysical Union’s WaterSciCon was perfectly timed. Read the article by clicking this link: https://buff.ly/3XJiOs0 The conference included presentations from multiple universities, including a UMinn PHD student's presentation that highlights how large rainfall events are occurring at higher frequencies than their name represents. The article goes on to highlight how large-scale ponds provide cost-effective solutions, while infiltration cannot solve it all, and innovative technologies will help in the future. But in the end, it all comes down to funding for construction and maintenance. #stormwatermanagement #civilengineer

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Valuable article from HDR Average age of dams in the U.S. is 61 years. According to ASDSO, 73% of our nation’s dams will be more than 50 years old by 2025 How are dam owners and operators responding?

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Real use case of ????, ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????????????, ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????????? maintain their road networks. Blyncsy, a Bentley company, published a new public map of U.S. interstate highways. It is available to all state departments of transportation (DOTs). Access it here: https://bit.ly/3AjjY40 Blyncsy's interstate highway map?empowers DOT officials with the ability to monitor and compare—in near real-time—the status of any major highway in the continental U.S. with their existing data. Continue reading to learn more about the digital map. https://bit.ly/3NJX2hg #civilengineering #AI #highwaysafety

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Small tip for how I make quicker H&H model updates… Right now, I’m working on a project that uses a 2-D PCSWMM model. It has: 1,200 junctions 50 MILES of conduits 121,000 2-D nodes Not surprisingly, it functions slower than I’d like… ?? Here’s what I do to make my model updates quicker.? (Things like: adding more pipes, streams, retention basins, or refining and breaking up subcatchments.). I build the updates in a separate “blank” model that doesn’t have any of the 2-D components. Then, once I’m done building the new components, I bring them into the larger model. I don’t have to deal with a slower moving model. And I can do updates and finish QA/QC on the new bits much quicker. It might seem obvious, but it makes a big time difference and doesn’t test my patience.

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Very insightful post. Appreciate the energy that went into it. At various intervals and for various states, exams and licensure has become a way for experienced engineers and surveyors to limit the number of licensees. Happened in surveying years ago by forcing all surveyors to have a college degree. Our colleges have also been failing our students by not pushing licensure during college. So new grads come out several years after college to pass the EI (EIT for us old folks) and they struggle to pass. I sincerely hope that those that are making licensure too difficult will understand that AI software is becoming vastly more sophisticated. It won't be long before software can exceed the abilities on CERTAIN tasks better than humans. Given that it is the really large corporate entities that are developing that software, and they employ about 1,000x more lobbyists that we do in engineering, how long will it take before those companies push for licensure to be modified? HUGE step, and hope it will never happen, but if the engineering and academic world can't solve the problem of available engineers, Congress will.......and you won't like the result.

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?? Is a Master’s Degree Enough for the PE Exam? In this Pass the PE Exam blog, I break down what it really takes to qualify for the PE exam. From understanding the importance of work experience to navigating state-specific requirements, get the insights you need to succeed. ?? Discover why a master’s degree alone might not be enough and learn the steps to ensure you're on the right path to licensure. Don’t let misconceptions hold you back! This episode is sponsored by PPI, a Kaplan Company. ?????♂? Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/ebJywKWV ?#PEExam #Engineering #PELicense #MastersDegree #CareerGrowth #PassThePEExam

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